Sullivan officials eye additional neighborhood watch programs

LIBERTY — Last year somebody saw something in the Town of Liberty's Loomis neighborhood: a house vacant since its elderly owner died; a white truck parked outside.

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By Leonard Sparks

recordonline.com

By Leonard Sparks

Posted May. 17, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Leonard Sparks

Posted May. 17, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

LIBERTY — Last year somebody saw something in the Town of Liberty's Loomis neighborhood: a house vacant since its elderly owner died; a white truck parked outside.

That person then called police to stop a burglary in process.

The groundwork for the call was laid four years ago when a group of frustrated residents rejected the belief that they were powerless victims. They formed a neighborhood watch group to report suspicious activity in a three-mile area that includes Frankie Lane and Loomis, Old Loomis and Scheibe roads.

Now county and law enforcement officials want to foment the formation of more groups like the Loomis Neighborhood Watch.

They have always been considered critical to fighting crime, but more so now as the sheriff's office and local police agencies confront budget crunches in the face of mounting burglaries.

"We feel safer, but we're more on alert," said Pat Lubin, president of the Loomis Neighborhood Watch and a burglary victim. The Loomis and other existing watches are being invited to discuss their work during a Public Safety Committee meeting next month. Residents interested in starting watches will also be invited, said Legislator Cora Edwards.

One goal is for existing groups to become mentors for neighborhoods interested in starting their own groups and for police agencies to strengthen their relationships, she said.

"We really want this to be a thing where people are not living in fear," Edwards said.

In 2009 Pat and Dave Lubin returned to a burglarized home after a one-day trip. Missing was jewelry, mementos and other items.

They decided it was time to "be more proactive," distributing fliers and drawing more than 45 residents and law enforcement officials to a community meeting.

Many had been strangers to each other before the meeting, and many had their own stories of being victims of burglaries or attempted burglaries.

In 1992 Carol Benton and her late husband returned home from a week-long trip to find about $8,000 in possessions stolen, including a $4,000 generator, televisions and a camera.

"They took everything electronic," said Benton, vice president of the Loomis Neighborhood Watch and a captain for one of the Loomis area's six zones.

In Foxcroft Village, homes were being burglarized "left and right" before residents joined with Fallsburg police Officer Jason Edwards to resurrect a watch program just over a year ago, police Chief Simmie Williams said.

Not so anymore, he said.

"Now they know that they have this neighborhood watch and people care about Foxcroft," Williams said.

Safety has not been the only benefit in Liberty.

The watch has led to stronger relationships between neighbors and between residents and police agencies.